News

Netflix has debuted the trailer for the highly anticipated sixth and final season of ‘Cobra Kai.’

With Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our senseis and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate.

(L to R) Peyton List as Tory Nichols, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Samantha Larusso, Griffin Santopeitro as Anthony Larusso. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024 (L to R) Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Samantha Larusso. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024

Season 6 stars Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Yuji Okumoto, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro, Oona O’Brien.

(L to R) Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Mary Mouser as Samantha Larusso, Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny,...

On the wonderful and ridiculous ride of feature film pre-production, the initial cast table read can often be a white-knuckle experience, waiting to see if the script sings with the actors cast — do they have chemistry together and do the Magic 8 Ball signs point to “Yes” or “Try again later”? For us, the core team on Shooting Stars, our first table read was no different.

In 2009, I read an article in Vanity Fair titled, “LeBron James’ Band of Brothers” and I became somewhat obsessed with the story of him and his best friends growing up in Akron, Ohio. And thanks to amazing partners along the way, a ton of luck and my shitty ability to reconcile art and commerce (a.k.a. stubbornness), 13 years later, we were making the movie.

I remember sitting in the conference room in our production offices, which were halfway between Cleveland and Akron. Chris Robinson,...

Production on the sixth and final season of the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, a continuation of the Karate Kid film franchise, was delayed several months due to the writers and actors strikes last year – but the extended wait is going to be worth it, because Netflix has just announced that the show is wrapping up with a 15 episode season (previous seasons consisted of 10 episodes), and they’re splitting the episodes up to make it a three part event! As they put it, “The end of a legacy… deserves a Grand Finale.” They’ve also revealed premiere dates: Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 1 premieres July 18, 2024. Part 2 premieres November 28, 2024. The Finale Event comes in 2025.

I’m hyped to finally have premiere dates for most of the episodes, because this show has become one of my all-time favorites over the course of the previous five seasons. I grew up on the Karate Kid movies and always enjoyed them,...

The final season of Netflix’s Cobra Kai will be released in three parts with the first premiering on July 18 followed by Part 2 on November 28. The final installment is more of a mystery as the streamer is only teasing it will drop in 2025.

The season picks up with Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley as senseis and students decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate, according to the official description. Check out the date announcement and teaser below.

Cobra Kai stars Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, and Yuji Okumoto all reprising their roles from the Karate Kid film franchise. Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro, and Oona O’Brien also star.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and...

Editor’s Note: This episode of Scene 2 Seen was taped before the July 14th start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Hello and welcome to the Scene 2 Seen podcast! I am Valerie Complex, and today we’re talking to director Chris Robinson about his latest directorial film, Shooting Stars.

An award-winning director and producer, Chris Robinson is known for his critically acclaimed body of work that defies genre and is constantly expanding. He and his production company, Robot Film Company, are known for their acclaimed storytelling centered around black voices and changing perspectives.

Robinson’s latest feature, Shooting Stars, the upcoming Peacock Original based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize winning author Buzz Bissinger, premiered on Friday, June 2. Shooting Stars is the inspiring origin story of a basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country, launching James...

Exclusive: LeBron James’ origin story is striking a chord with audiences on Peacock.

The original film Shooting Stars has now become Peacock’s most-watched original film in its first four weeks of availability.

Since its June 2 premiere, Shooting Stars has remained the #1 original film every weekend on Peacock. Specific viewership data for the film isn’t available.

Peacock currently streams nine original films, including Praise This, They/Them, Meet Cute and Sick.

Directed by Chris Robinson and based on the book by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars is the origin story of a basketball superhero, revealing how James and his childhood friends become the No. 1 high school team in the country, launching James’ breathtaking career as a four-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

The cast of Shooting Stars includes Marquis “Mookie” Cook, Wood Harris, Caleb McLaughlin, Khalil Everage, Avery S. Willis,...

Chicago – It’s rare to see a director debut that is nuanced, anarchistic and different, but the high school coming-of-age comedy “The Crusades” – by first-timer Leo Milano – scores with its solid comedic script, unique characters and passionate homage to Chicagoland’s Northwest Burbs, as well as featuring hot actor Rudy Pankow (Netflix’s “Outer Banks”).

The film will be released through Vmi International beginning this Friday, July 7th, and will be available to stream via Apple, Vudu, Amazon, Xfinity and more. Check your provider. There will also be a Chicagoland theatrical run starting July 7th at the historic Pickwick Theatre, click The Crusades for ticket information and showtimes.

‘The Crusades,’ Directed by Leo Milano

Photo credit: Vmi International

Three friends, who attend the all-boys Our Lady of the Crusades high school, receive earth-shattering news about an upcoming merger with a rival school, so they make a pact to have an...

Have you missed LeBron since his Lakers were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs? Well, if so, you’re in luck. on Friday, June 2, Peacock premieres “Shooting Stars.” The film tells the story of James and his childhood friends from their time as the top high school basketball team in the country through his Hall of Fame career. Despite the fame and success that King James has had, his best friends from Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary High School have remained by his side. You can watch Shooting Stars with a subscription to Peacock.

How to Watch LeBron James Biopic ‘Shooting Stars’ When: Friday, June 2, 2023 Where: Peacock Stream: Watch with a subscription to Peacock. Sign Up$4.99+ / month peacocktv.com About LeBron James Biopic ‘Shooting Stars’

“Shooting Stars” is based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Friday Night Lights”, Buzz Bissinger. Shooting Stars is the inspiring...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on June 1st, reviewing “Shooting Stars,” telling the phenomenal origins of LeBron James and his childhood high school team. Streaming on Peacock beginning June 2nd.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

It was group of four lower middle class boys from Akron, Ohio, who came together in a Salvation Army basketball league, coached by Dru Joyce (Wood Harris) and later as teenagers coached in part by Keith Dambrot (Dermot Mulroney) at the local Catholic School. The team consisted of the core Little Dru Joyce (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills Jr.), Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage) and LeBron James, and became the Fab Five with the addition of Romeo Travis (Sterling Henderson). As a unit, there were one of the greatest high school basketball teams in history, with state championships, national championships, a number one nationwide rating and a future NBA Superstar.

Shooting Stars Photo: Universal/Peacock The best kings are benevolent; LeBron James displayed this trait from his earliest days, both on the court in real life and in fictional form in this movie, which isn’t about LeBron James, per se, at all. Shooting Stars is based on the biographical...

Shooting StarsPhoto: Universal/Peacock

The best kings are benevolent; LeBron James displayed this trait from his earliest days, both on the court in real life and in fictional form in this movie, which isn’t about LeBron James, per se, at all. Shooting Stars is based on the biographical book...

Practically since his career began, LeBron James has been not merely a great basketball player but a media industry generating a seemingly endless array of products.

The latest example is this new Peacock original film based on his 2009 memoir co-written with Buzz Bissinger (Friday Night Lights), recounting the story of his early years and friendship with his high school teammates known as the “Fab Four,” later expanded to become the “Fab Five.” The story was already told in the 2008 documentary More Than a Game, but that won’t stop the Goat’s fans from wanting to see this lovingly rendered adaptation that covers all the early career highlights, albeit sometimes in sanitized form.

The story begins with James (Marquis “Mookie” Cook, a top-ranked amateur basketball player making an impressive screen debut) playing in a youth league in Akron, Ohio, along with his three best friends: Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin, Stranger...

"He can win you a state championship - guaranteed." NBC's Peacock has revealed a main official trailer for a film titled Shooting Stars, a docu-drama event about LeBron's high school days. This looks way better than most are probably expecting. Based on the book by LeBron James & the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars is the inspiring origin story of a legendary basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country. This early fete would launch James’s breathtaking career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The film stars Wood Harris, newcomer Marquis "Mookie" Cook as a young LeBron, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Paul, Algee Smith, with Dermot Mulroney, Khalil Everage, Sterling "Scoot" Henderson, Katlyn Nichol, and Avery S. Wills Jr. This looks crazy good!

It’s not how you start the game. It’s how you finish. Peacock is taking it to the hoop today with the Shooting Stars trailer, depicting LeBron James‘s meteoric rise from the high school basketball court to becoming one of the greatest players ever to play the game. Shooting Stars is based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger. According to today’s official press release, Shooting Stars “is the inspiring origin story of a basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country, launching James’s breathtaking career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.”

Here’s the official synopsis:

In the 1990s, a young LeBron James and his three best friends — Lil Dru, Willie McGee, and Sian Cotton—called themselves the “Fab Four,...

Peacock’s first teaser trailer for Shooting Stars features NBA superstar LeBron James looking back with fondness on his formative years in high school. Based on the book by James and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger (Friday Night Lights), the film explores LeBron’s friendship with four talented high school players and how they rose from obscurity to become national champs.

Marquis “Mookie” Cook stars as a young LeBron, Caleb McLaughlin is Lil Dru Joyce III, Avery S. Wills, Jr. is Willie McGee, and Khalil Everage plays Sian Cotton. Wood Harris plays Coach Dru Joyce II, Sterling “Scoot” Henderson is Romeo Travis, and Dermot Mulroney stars as Keith Dambrot.

Chris Robinson directed and Frank E. Flowers (Metro Manila), Tony Rettenmaier (Space Jam: A New Legacy), and Juel Taylor (Creed II) adapted James and Bissinger’s book. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Rachel Winter, Spencer Beighley, Jamal Henderson, and Terence Winter served as producers,...

"It's not how you start the game. It's how you finish." NBC's Peacock has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a film titled Shooting Stars, a docu-drama event about LeBron's high school days. Based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars is the inspiring origin story of a legendary basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country, launching James’s breathtaking career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The film stars Wood Harris, newcomer Marquis "Mookie" Cook as a young LeBron, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Paul, Algee Smith, with Dermot Mulroney, Khalil Everage, Sterling "Scoot" Henderson, Katlyn Nichol, and Avery S. Wills Jr. This reminds me of Ava DuVernary's Kaepernick series, mixing in the real...

Leo Milano directed high school coming-of-age story.

Vmi Worldwide has come on board worldwide sales rights for TIFF to coming-of-age story The Crusades starring Rudy Pankow from Netflix’s Outer Banks.

Leo Milano directed the film about three friends at an all-boys private high school about to merge with a rival institution who plan one final hurrah while dodging authority, love affairs and violent foes in the longest weekend of their lives.

At the heart of it is Leo Grecco, a delusional romantic caught up in a teenage love triangle. Ashley Nicole Williams, Khalil Everage, Indiana Massara, Ryan Ashton, Blaine Maye...

Click here to read the full article.

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Cobra Kai, Pinocchio, Gutsy and Growing Up.

Pinocchio premiere

Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans and director Robert Zemeckis premiered their new live-action adaptation at the Walt Disney Studios lot on Wednesday.

Luke Evans, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Robert Zemeckis Alan Bergman, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Cynthia Erivo, Bob Chapek, CEO of Walt Disney Studios, and Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production

Cobra Kai season five premiere

The fifth season of Netflix’s hit martial arts series was unveiled on Wednesday at L.A. State Historic Park, with stars William Zabka, Ralph Macchio and Martin Kove.

Griffin Santopietro, Thomas Ian Griffith, Dallas Dupree Young, Khalil Everage, Hannah Kepple, Yuji Okumoto, Joe Seo,...

As audiences eagerly await the arrival of “Cobra Kai” Season 5 on Netflix next month, fans can whet their appetites with a slew of first-look images for the new season, including the return of yet another familiar face from “Karate Kid” lore.

Season 5 will welcome back Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes, who franchise devotees will remember as one of the main antagonists of “The Karate Kid III.” In that film, he was hired by Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) to take down Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) in the All Valley Karate Championship. Later in Season 3 of “Cobra Kai,” Daniel tells his daughter Sam that Mike was the most ruthless fighter he ever faced off against. Nothing hits harder in “Cobra Kai” than nostalgia.

“As Terry Silver calls upon some old friends to put the Valley in a stranglehold, Daniel and Johnny are going to need all the help they can get...

This article contains Cobra Kai season 4 spoilers.

Throughout the series, Cobra Kai has taken Easter egging to new levels with constant shout outs to the original Karate Kid film trilogy. Season 3 saw some major throwbacks with the return of Ali (Elisabeth Shue), Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), and more. That was a hard act to follow, but the return of Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) was an enormous Easter egg from Karate Kid Part III, tapping the franchise’s deep lore.

However, it’s those esoteric Easter eggs that are the most tantalizing, the ones that are hidden in plain sight.

That Yellow Convertible

At the start of season 4, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) implements Mr. Miyagi’s (Pat Morita) “wax on, wax off” training regimen for his new Miyagi-Do recruits. Once again, students are polishing that classic yellow 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible to hone their blocking skills. That car has...

Exclusive: Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars) and Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls) have signed on to star in Myles Clohessy’s indie horror film, The Bog.

They join previously announced cast members Mark Ryder (Borgia), Timothy Murphy (Westworld) and Robert Clohessy (Blue Bloods) in the film, which goes into production in Ireland and Scotland in October.

Inspired by haunting true events, The Bog tells the story of two couples, led by a troubled Collette (Parrish), who intertwined through friendship, unknowing infidelity and a tragic family death, decide to take an epic hiking trip into the remote Scottish Highlands to get away from it all, reconnect and stay at one of the secluded ancient cottages that dot the area. What starts as the time of their lives—and a much-needed, doctor-requested couples retreat—quickly spirals out of control for the group of friends in the isolated, harrowing mountain territory. There, they find...

Exclusive: Khalil Everage (Cobra Kai) and Indiana Massara (Hero Mode) have joined the cast of The Crusades, an upcoming film from writer/director Leo Milano.

They’ll star opposite previously announced cast member Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks).

The highly stylized dramatic comedy follows three friends at an all-boys high school, as they try to survive one final weekend before merging with their rival school. It’s scripted by Milano, Jack Hussar and Shaun Early, who were inspired to write the pic, given their own experience attending an all-boys private high school.

As we told you first, Pankow will lead the cast as Leo Grecco, a charming and sometimes delusional dreamer who spends his life focused on things he can’t have.

Everage joins as unconventional jock, Sean. Despite having the game, the grades, and the girlfriend, Sean can’t seem to feel like “the man.”

Massara is set to play Jess,...

Exclusive: Newcomer Khalil Everage, who recently starred in the Netflix original feature Beats opposite Anthony Anderson, has signed with Buchwald.

In Beats, Everage plays teen August Monroe, who withdraws from the world after his sister is shot to death in front of him. Anderson plays a high school security guard and disgraced music manager who checks in on August at his home and finds out he’s a hip-hop prodigy. The two end up collaborating and changing each other’s lives.

Everage recently was seen in a major recurring role as Chris in the second season of YouTube’s hit series Cobra Kai, from Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. He also was recently seen as Little Big Man in Season 2 of Lena Waithe’s critically acclaimed Showtime series The Chi.

Everage continues to be represented by Artists First.

Beats is the latest original movie from Netflix and comes from director Chris Robinson (Atl). Anthony Anderson stars in this inner city drama and is joined by Khalil Everage, Uzo Aduba (Orange Is The New Black) and Emayatzy E. Corinealdi (Ballers). Two people down on their luck see strength in each other and try to break into the competitive world of hip hop. But how does this drama compare to the dozens of other Netflix original movies?

Watch the 60-second review from One Minute Critic:

You can check out more 1-minute reviews on One Minute Critic's Instagram or Youtube page.

For this month’s streaming offerings: Martin Scorsese revisits a key tour in Bob Dylan’s career; the Jonas brothers offer fans a peek into their most intimate moments; Adam Sandler’s partnership with Netflix continues; and water-cooler series as Black Mirror and The Handmaid’s Tale return to the programming calendar. Here’s what coming to a Smart TV or laptop near you. (You can check out our cable TV recommendations for June here.)

Beats (Netflix, June 19th)

Music video veteran Chris Robinson gets in the feature game with...

"He's a machine the makes a beat-a-minute!" Netflix has debuted an official trailer for an indie coming-of-age drama titled Beats, from director Chris Robinson (Atl). Not to be confused with the British film also titled Beats, this one is set in Chicago and tells the story of a young, talented musician. Beats is a coming-of-age story about a reclusive teenage musical prodigy, played by Khalil Everage, who befriends his school's security guard. They start making music together and try to break into the city's music scene. The main cast includes Anthony Anderson, Uzo Aduba, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Dreezy, and Dave East, plus Paul Walter Hauser. Well this looks pretty damn good, might be worth a watch. Even just for the music alone. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Chris Robinson's Beats, direct from Netflix's YouTube: In this coming-of-age drama, a reclusive teenage musical prodigy (Khalil Everage) forms an unlikely...

In today’s film news roundup, New York says “Ocean’s 8” generated $63 million in economic activity, Anthony Anderson joins a Netflix coming-of-age drama, and Rosie O’Donnell backs an anti-Trump documentary.

Economic Activity

New York officials have announced that the production of Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Ocean’s 8” created more than $63 million in economic activity to New York State.

The production spent over 60 days shooting in New York, under the direction of Gary Ross. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter and was shot at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Marcy Armory in Brooklyn, Veselka Cafe in East Village, Myrtle Avenue in Richmond Hill, Fifth Avenue and 79th Street, and 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street in Manhattan.

“Ocean’s 8” generated $31 million in wages; more than $22 million spent on local rentals and purchases for set decoration,...